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Summary

Extensive catch meadow gutters of probable post-medieval to 19th century date are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 as parallel narrow curvilinear earthwork ditches on the combe slopes at Spriddlescombe Manor Farm, overlooking the Shilstone Brook. The ditches remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CATCH MEADOW (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

The visible gutters correspond in part with water channels depicted on the Ordnance Survey 25inch First Edition map.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 FS 2194-2195 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as earthworks.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM XX-XXX-2010 ACCESSED 21-APR-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

Curvilinear ditches are visible as subtle earthworks.

Environment Agency, 2019, National Lidar Programme, LIDAR Environment Agency DTM 25-FEB-2019 (Cartographic). SDV363691.

Curvilinear ditches are identifiable as subtle earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

Curvilinear ditches circa 2 to 4m wide and up to circa 500m long are visible as roughly parallel earthworks on aerial photographs of 1946 closely following the contours of the combe slopes from the south-west to north-east of Spriddlescombe Manor Farm.
The channels are interpreted as probably the remains of an extensive catch meadow irrigation system of probable post-medieval to 19th century date. The visible gutters correspond in part with water channels depicted on the Ordnance Survey 1880s 25inch First Edition map and might therefore have ceased to be used prior to the 1880s.
Catch meadows diverted water from springs or streams and used the channels, or gutters, to redistribute it to irrigate combe slopes. Originating probably in the medieval period catch meadows were in widespread use in Devon in the 19th century with many continuing in use into the mid-20th century.
In this instance the catch meadows probably diverted water directly from the stream that rises to the north-west of the farm, flowing southwards as a tributary to the Shilstone Brook, and possibly upstream from the Shilstone Brook itself.
The ditches remain identifiable as earthworks on digital images derived from aerial photographs of 2010 and visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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